Posts Tagged ‘Marat Garipov’

New York NY — 2 of my very best special friends here all the way from Moscow Russia – Vitaly Solomonov and Alexander Dovgopoly, my favorite musicians / people from Igor Butman Big Band, opening up tonight at Jazz At Lincoln Center Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola Tue-Sun, Jul 17-22. 7:30pm & 9:30pm plus 11:30pm on Fri & Sat – go to their show if you can folks! Welcome back to NYC USA Vitaly & Alexander! – Jon Hammond *thank you very much / Большое спасибо Tatiana for the photo! – JH

New York NY — My good friends from Moscow Russia – here live in Lincoln Center! Vitaly Solomonov, Alexander Dovgopoly and Tatiana is teaching music here in New York now! Jon Hammond
Here they are by the famous Starbucks!

New York NY — here we are in the wonderful horn section from Igor Butman Orchestra with my good friend Ed Zizak drums, he has the new glasses looking like Professor Zizak!
Alexander Dovgopoly – Baritone Saxophone – fantastic sound folks!

New York NY Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola — my friend Marat Garipov manager of Igor Butman Orchestra taking some fantastic pictures at sound check in the cola club – the cats are back in town from Moscow! Alexander Dovgopoly far right – baritone saxophone excellent! – Jon Hammond

New York NY — They found each other!
Corner of 57th and Fifth Avenue – Jon Hammond
*Note, you might see this stunning couple shot by Bill Cunningham, he was slinking around me getting shots and trying to stay out of view of my camera but I got him – *Bill Cunningham who shoots almost daily on corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th St. This is a guy who shoots people candidly, yet he has an aversion to being on-camera himself. He is quite adept at slinking away and moving in back of you anytime your lens levels off in his direction. I’ve seen the man for years and he has always done that, my first shots of him date back to 1985. Here I got him on-camera just this morning – Bill Cunningham shot by Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cunningham_(photographer)
William J. Cunningham (born March 13, 1929) is a fashion photographer for The New York Times, known for his candid and street photography.

Cunningham dropped out of Harvard University in 1948 and moved to New York, where he initially worked in advertising. Not long after, he quit his job and struck out on his own, making hats under the name “William J.” After being drafted (causing his business to fold) and serving a tour in the U.S. Army, he returned to New York and got a job writing for the Chicago Tribune.
During his years as a writer, he contributed significantly to fashion journalism, introducing American audiences to Azzedine Alaïa and Jean-Paul Gaultier. While working at the Tribune and at Women’s Wear Daily, he began taking photographs of fashion on the streets of New York. As the result of a chance photograph of Greta Garbo, he published a group of his impromptu pictures in the Times in December 1978, which soon became a regular series.His editor, Arthur Gelb, has called these photographs “a turning point for the Times, because it was the first time the paper had run pictures of well-known people without getting their permission.”
Cunningham photographs people and the passing scene in the streets of Manhattan every day. Most of his pictures, he has said, are never published. Designer Oscar de la Renta has said, “More than anyone else in the city, he has the whole visual history of the last 40 or 50 years of New York. It’s the total scope of fashion in the life of New York.”Though he has made a career out of unexpected photographs of celebrities, socialites, and fashion personalities, many in those categories value his company. According to David Rockefeller, Brooke Astor asked he be invited to her 100th birthday party, the only member of the media so honored.[3]
In 2008 he was awarded the title Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
In 2010, filmmaker Richard Press and Philip Gefter of The Times produced Bill Cunningham New York a documentary about Cunningham, including his trademark bicycle and camera,.The film was released on March 16, 2011. It reveals various of Cunningham’s eccentricities: he was living in a tiny, apparently one-room, apartment in the Carnegie Hall building, filled with filing cabinets and boxes of his photographs. He does not have a wardrobe, a kitchen or even his own bathroom. Despite his interest in fashion, his clothes are few and purely utilitarian.
He was featured on The Culture Show in March 2012.
On the Street, Cunningham’s weekly slideshow for the Times online
“Capturing the Elusive Bill Cunningham”, New York Times story about Bill Cunningham New York
The movie “Bill Cunningham New York”
Facebook: Bill Cunningham — at Tiffany & Co

New York NY — Famous People Photograper Bill Cunningham who shoots almost daily on corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th St. This is a guy who shoots people candidly, yet he has an aversion to being on-camera himself. He is quite adept at slinking away and moving in back of you anytime your lens levels off in his direction. I’ve seen the man for years and he has always done that, my first shots of him date back to 1985. Here I got him on-camera just this morning – Bill Cunningham shot by Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cunningham_(photographer)
William J. Cunningham (born March 13, 1929) is a fashion photographer for The New York Times, known for his candid and street photography.

Cunningham dropped out of Harvard University in 1948 and moved to New York, where he initially worked in advertising. Not long after, he quit his job and struck out on his own, making hats under the name “William J.” After being drafted (causing his business to fold) and serving a tour in the U.S. Army, he returned to New York and got a job writing for the Chicago Tribune.

Hamamatsu Japan — special concert in Suzuki Hall for President Mr. Manji Suzuki and Suzuki Company at the World Headquarters and Factory
Suzuki Artists Koei Tanaka and Jon Hammond
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0f_cH1U5jc

North Beach San Francisco — Bernard Purdie and Jon Hammond playing at the now defunct Cocodrie nightclub
Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSk9gXkF2c
Jon Hammond brought legendary studio drummer Bernard Purdie ‘The Hit Maker’ back to San Francisco to play for the first time since the Live Aretha Franklin at Fillmore recordings in March of 1971. The concert went down in North Beach San Francisco at COCODRIE Club. Here they are playing a Jon Hammond Band original ‘Hip Hop Chitlins’ with an explosive and impromptu drum solo from Bernard that is pure Funk. On the band: Bennett Friedman tenor sax, Barry Finnerty guitar, Bernard Purdie drums, Jon Hammond organ & bass *Special thanks: Scott Rootenberg — at 1024 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA

Times Square NYC — I won’t be doing this today…it’s hot as hell in the 90’s here folks! Jon Hammondhttp://www.accordionradio.com/
*Photo by Elmar Lemes

Garden City Long Island NY — The greatest, Angelo DiPippo here! Angelo met me at the train station and we had a fantastic day hanging out – “Eddie Fisher’s last released album was recorded around 1984, arranged by Angelo DiPippo. DiPippo worked with Eddie countless hours to better his vocals but it became useless. His final recordings (never released) were made in 1995 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. ”
Carmine D’amico: ” live out of the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC. Angelo DiPippo, arranger and accordianist, called me to play mandolin and guitar in the movie (the wedding scene) and for the soundtrack of “The Godfather,” along with albums for Rodney Dangerfield..”
incredible Angelo, yeah man! Jon Hammond http://www.angelodipippo.com/

New York NY 156 W.48th St. old Manny’s/ now Sam Ash — Old Yellow !
“Old Yellow? . That’s the nickname for the gnarled Danolectro guitar at the shop — never for sale — that has been called the Blarney Stone of the rock world. It has been played by the likes of Clapton, Hendrix and Lennon.” Jon Hammond — at Sam Ash Music Store

New York NY 322 W.48th St. — The front of Local 802 Headquarters and awning looking good! Jon Hammond — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM

New York NY — Jon Hammond standing in front of Local 802 AFM Musicians Union Headquarters with brand-spankin’ new Hammond Sk1 organ still in the box, stopped by to say hi to fellow 802 musicians – ready for action..and that is coming soon folks! *That’s me in the Bernard Purdie T-Shirt –
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEKdzmlhvXI
Jon Hammond Band playing Jon’s composition Late Rent the theme song of his long-running cable TV show The Jon Hammond Show live at The Bitter End club in Greenwich Village New York. Special late show with some of the original musicians from the recording which happened in 1983 in Intergalactic Studios the same studio where John Lennon did his last recordings. On tenor saxophone Todd Anderson who was Jon’s Arranging and Composition teacher in 1973 at Berklee College of Music, Ray Grappone drums who played on the Sidewinder track from Late Rent album first release as heard on WNEW AM 1130 Al Jazzbo Collins radio program, Joe Berger guitar, long-time co-producer engineer guitarist and Jon Hammond playing the incredible New Hammond Sk1 organ designed by Jon’s friends at Suzuki Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu Japan. Swinging Funky Jazz and Blues. All 4 members of The Jon Hammond Band are members of Local 802 Musicians Union American Federation of Musicians New York City, congratulations 802 on 90th Birthday! *Note: This performance was streamed live on the world wide web, special thanks to John Acer and Clifford Schwartz of NuMuBu in Montreal Canada for the broadcast report. — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM

Jon Hammond Journal For Day July 16, 2012 Report – First very sad news, Jon Lord the
great Hammond organist of Deep Purple fame has died
Folks, Very Sad Announcement: Jon Lord has died.

Jon Lord of Deep Purple Speaking about Hammond Sk1 and Sk2 with Jon Hammond in Frankfurt at Musikmesse

Rest In Peace Jon – Jon Hammondhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4AbLZZ0380
Jonathan Douglas Lord, rock and classical musician and composer, born 9 June 1941; died 16 July 2012
He is survived by his wife, Vicky, and their daughter, Amy; and a daughter, Sara, by his first wife, Judith, from whom he was divorced.
Jon’s Obit from The Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jul/16/jon-lord?newsfeed=true
Jon Lord
“Organist who infused Deep Purple with classical influences, helping make them one of the world’s biggest rock bands”
‘We’re as valid as anything by Beethoven,” declared Jon Lord of his band, Deep Purple, in an interview with the New Musical Express in 1973. Lord, who has died aged 71 after suffering from pancreatic cancer, was not merely adopting a rebellious stance. An accomplished classical composer as well as rock musician, he believed with some justification that his group’s music was as profound in structure and as significant in cultural impact as any work from the symphonic canon. At the time, Deep Purple were among the world’s biggest rock bands, having built an enormous fanbase on the strength of their classically influenced songs, which lent further weight to Lord’s statement.

Born in Leicester, Lord studied classical piano from the age of five. In his teens, the then-new rock’n’roll and R&B movements made a deep impression on him, in particular the music recorded by blues pianists and organists such as Jimmy McGriff and Jerry Lee Lewis. The contemporary combination of Hammond B3 and C3 organs with Leslie speakers appealed to him, and this became an instrumental setup that remained integral to Lord’s signature keyboard style for the rest of his career.

In 1959, he moved to London to pursue acting, which he studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He played the piano and Hammond organ in clubs to pay the bills, initially with a jazz band called the Bill Ashton Combo and then with Red Bludd’s Bluesicians, featuring the vocalist Art Wood. While recording occasional sessions (he contributed keyboards to the Kinks’ 1964 hit You Really Got Me), Lord pursued pop success in the Art Wood Combo, who later renamed themselves the Artwoods and appeared on TV. I Take What I Want was the group’s only charting single.

Lord discovered his trademark sound when he formed Santa Barbara Machine Head, which also featured Wood’s brother and future Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood. The key to this group’s success was its powerful, organ- and guitar-driven formula, which pointed at the future musical recipe of Deep Purple, and also the meeting of Lord and the bassist Nick Simper. The duo were the backbone of Deep Purple, who formed when the businessman and manager Tony Edwards invested in the new group and auditioned the cream of London’s young talent – the guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, the singer Rod Evans and the drummer Ian Paice among them. This quintet formed Purple’s first lineup in 1968.

Deep Purple spent the following eight years on a path that took them around the world on several occasions (in later years, they had a private jet), playing the world’s largest stadiums and issuing a series of classic LPs – In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972) and Burn (1974) among them. Personnel came and went, but Lord and Paice remained constant members until the group’s dissolution amid a haze of drug addiction and exhaustion in 1976.

Of the great British rock bands of the 70s, only Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the Stones were able to operate on as grand a scale: unlike any of those groups, Deep Purple took regular time out to indulge in classical projects initiated and directed by Lord. The most notable of these was the live Concerto for Group and Orchestra, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969.

It was this equal passion for rock bombast and classical finesse that made Lord such an unusual musician. During Deep Purple’s glory days, he often infused the songs with classical influences, as in the song April from the group’s eponymous album in 1969. His organ playing, which often counterpointed Blackmore’s virtuoso lead guitar, was unique and often copied.

After the split, Lord formed a group with the rock singer Tony Ashton and Deep Purple’s ex-drummer Paice entitled Paice, Ashton & Lord. They released one album, Malice in Wonderland, in 1977. He then joined Whitesnake, the band formed by Deep Purple’s last lead singer, David Coverdale. This group, not to be confused with the 1980s reincarnation that played stadium rock and met with huge success, was an earthy, blues-rock band in which Lord’s organ playing was an essential element. His stint in Whitesnake ended when he rejoined a reformed lineup of Deep Purple in 1984 alongside Blackmore, Paice, the singer Ian Gillan and the bassist Roger Glover.

Many solo projects and collaborations came during and between Lord’s membership of these bands, including Before I Forget (1982), which featured classical piano music; a commission to compose the soundtrack of Central Television’s 1984 series The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady; and guest spots on albums by rock luminaries such as Lord’s Oxfordshire neighbour George Harrison and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.

Eight more years of recording and tours followed before Lord felt he had had enough of life on the road. In a letter to his bandmates in 2002, he requested that Deep Purple take a year off. When this request was declined, he amicably left the group. Solo projects followed, including a collaboration in 2004 with sometime Abba singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and the formation of a blues band, Hoochie Coochie Men, three years later. In 2010, Lord was made an honorary fellow of Stevenson College, Edinburgh, and the following year he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music by the University of Leicester.

Jon Hammond in Leo’s Pro Audio trying out Bag End speakers with 1965 Fender Band-Master head and XK-1 Hammond organ – this organ and flight case are available to the right person by the way – JH — at Leo’s PRO Audio

Wishing a Big Happy Healthy Birthday to Main Man Glenn Derringer! Glenn is one of my All-Time Super Heroes!!
Have a fantastic one Glenn and many more!!!
Jon Hammond — with Glenn Derringer

New York NY Town Hall 43rd Street — Alex Foster and Stephen Ferrone at Memorial for Michael Brecker R.I.P. *note, Joe Berger is also there but for some reason the camera barely registers him, go figure! Jon Hammond — at The Town Hall.

Frankfurt am Main — Main Man Totó Giovanni Gulino drums hanging with Main Man Joe Lamond – President of NAMM on the break at my annual Musikmesse Frankfurt Warm Up Party – the Chocolate on Chocolate Cake was GOOD! – Jon Hammond
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hozrJpHvV-4
Chocolate on Chocolate Cake at Musikmesse Warm Up Party in Jazzkeller Frankfurt with Jon Hammond Band and special guest…See More — at Jazzkeller.

Frankfurt am Main — They know me well in this Deutsche Bundespost by the Frankfurt Bahnhof! – Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bundespost
The Deutsche Bundespost (German federal post office) was created in 1947 as a successor to the Reichspost (German imperial post office). Between 1947 and 1950 the enterprise was called Deutsche Post (German post office). Until 1989 the Deutsche Bundespost was a state-owned company.
The Bundespost was developed according to a three-stage principle common in public administration in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The upper stage consisted of the federal ministry for the post office and telecommunication system. The middle stage consisted of regional directorates and national post office management in West Berlin, with certain central bureaucracies (post office technical central office, telecommunication engineering central office, postal administration social office, and post offices) on an equal footing. Finally, the lower stage consisted of the actual post offices, postal giro (akin to a checking account)and savings bank offices, and telecommunication offices.
The legal basis for the administrative activity of the Bundespost was the postal administration law (Postverwaltungsgesetz, abbreviated PostVwG). A central goal of public administrative policy after 1924 was financial self-sufficiency. Political goals, however, often superseded this goal. According to the PostVwG, the federal postal system was to be administered “according to the principles of the policy of the FRG, in particular trade, economic, financial and social policies” and “the interests of the German national economy.”
The Deutsche Bundespost was the largest employer in the Federal Republic. In 1985 it employed 543,200 people.
In the first post office reform (July 1, 1989), the Bundespost was divided into three divisions (also called public enterprises):
Deutsche Bundespost Postdienst – postal service
Deutsche Bundespost Telekom – communications service
Deutsche Bundespost Postbank – postal bank
The central authorities remained as described above. The divisions were later privatized in the second post office reform (January 1, 1995), resulting in the creation of the following:
Deutsche Post AG from the postal service
Deutsche Telekom AG from the communications service
Deutsche Postbank AG from the postal bank
The federal ministry for post office and telecommunications (Bundesministerium für Post und Telekommunikation) retained oversight responsibility for postal services and telecommunications. After the dissolution of that ministry on 1 January 1998, those tasks were taken over by a new federal network regulatory agency (Bundesnetzagentur, formerly RegTP) under the federal ministry for economics and technology. Other functions (such as the issuance of postage stamps) were taken over by the federal ministry of finance. Some telecommunications functions (including BOS radio) were turned over to the federal ministry of the interior.
For certain official and legal purposes (including certain financial, medical and other services for former postal civil servants), a “federal institution for post and telecommunication” (Bundesanstalt für Post und Telekommunikation) was created. — at Deutsche Post FFM.

Hofheim am Taunus Germany — Congratulations 53 years Jazzkeller Hofheim and dankeschoen for putting me in the book on Page 68 – from show I did circa 1996 in Trio with Tony Lakatos tenor sax, Uwe Petersen on drums – myself at the XB-2 Hammond organ / bass – Jon Hammond http://www.jonhammondband.com/ — at Jazzkeller Hofheim.

If the car had a slightly bigger trunk it would be good!
Jon Hammond — at Radisson blu Hamburg Dammtor.

Jon Hammond : “Open House, Beware of The Dog, No Loitering, No Trespassing, Reserved Parking, No Smoking, House for Sale, Danger, For Rent, No Parking, Employees Only, No Soliciting, Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted! etc., etc.! – JH and No Dumping!

New York NY — Jazz heavyweight FRANK OWENS at the piano – singers showcase with Cobi Tanaka – Local 802 Musicians Union – Jon Hammond *interesting story about Frank, his name was originally Owen, but so many people called “Frank Owens” that he eventually just added the s.
For seven years, Frank Owens was music director for NBC TV’s Showtime at the Apollo. He was also host of Portrait of the Arts. Mr. Owens performed in the Hartford CT Theatreworks production of Paul Robeson, playing the part of Lawrence Brown. Recently he accompanied Hal David in his tribute at the Friars Club and Freda Payne at the High Mount Jazz Festival, and is co-author and arranger of Shades of Harlem.

Mr. Owens has played and conducted abroad, including the conducting A Fourth of July Celebration of American Jazz, Pop and Broadway in Moscow. Frank Owens was resident pianist at Mortimer’s for over six years, and appeared several times a year at the Hotel Carlyle’s Bemelman’s Bar. He appeared at the Blue Note with Ruth Brown of Broadway’s Black and Blue, having arranged and conducted her album, Fine and Mellow.

Frank was musical director for the first David Letterman Show in 1980. Other TV credits include the Jack Paar Show, Geraldo Rivera’s Goodnight America, and Eubie Blake’s, A Century of Music. He did dance arrangements for the film the Wiz, contributed to many records and albums in the top ten, and won the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences sponsored MVP Award for Acoustic Piano for several years. — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM.

New York NY — Local 802 – 2 heavyweights in Jazz:
Cobi Narita of ‘Cobi’s Place’ and pianist Frank Owens conducting singers showcase in the Club Room of Local 802 Musicians Union Hall – Jon Hammond — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM.

Long Beach CA — James Moody R.I.P. – Jon Hammond *I shot this photo Jan. 2005http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Moody_(saxophonist)
James Moody (March 26, 1925 – December 9, 2010) was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit “Moody’s Mood for Love,” an improvisation based on “I’m in the Mood for Love”; in performance, he often sang Eddie Jefferson’s vocalese lyr…See More — at Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.

New York NY — I caught this stunning art installation today while passing by on the bus, flipping airplane (real!) at the entrance to Central Park at 58th & Fifth Avenue across from the big 24 hour Apple Store Fifth Avenue and the Plaza Hotel, nice! Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of 250 ft (76 m) and length of 400 ft (120 m) that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza. It is owned by El-Ad Properties and managed and operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. — at The Plaza Hotel.

New York NY — Guggenheim Museum on a nice summer day – Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_R._Guggenheim_Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (often referred to as “The Guggenheim”) is a well-known art museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is the permanent home of a renowned and continuously expanding collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. The museum was established by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1939 as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting, under the guidance of its first director, the artist Hilla von Rebay. It adopted its current name after the death of its founder, Solomon R. Guggenheim, in 1952.
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the cylindrical museum building, wider at the top than the bottom, was conceived as a “temple of the spirit” and is one of the 20th century’s most important architectural landmarks. The building opened on October 21, 1959, replacing rented spaces used by the museum since its founding. Its unique ramp gallery extends from just under the skylight in the ceiling in a long, continuous spiral along the outer edges of the building until it reaches the ground level. The building underwent extensive expansion and renovations from 1992 to 1993 (when an adjoining tower was built) and from 2005 to 2008. The museum’s collection has grown organically, over eight decades, and is founded upon several important private collections, beginning with Solomon R. Guggenheim’s original collection. The collection is shared with the museum’s sister museums in Bilbao, Spain, and elsewhere.
Early years
Solomon Guggenheim, guided by his art adviser, German painter Hilla Rebay, began to collect works by nonobjective artists in 1929. Guggenheim first began to show his collection in his apartment, and as the collection grew, he established the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1937. The foundation’s goal was the “promotion and encouragement and education in art and the enlightenment of the public.” It was endowed to operate one or more museums; Solomon Guggenheim was elected its first President and Rebay its Director.

Museum under construction in photo taken on Nov. 12, 1957
In 1939, the Guggenheim Foundation’s first museum, “The Museum of Non-Objective Painting”, opened in rented quarters at 24 East 54th Street in New York City and showcased art by early modernists such as Rudolf Bauer, Rebay, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian. During the life of Guggenheim’s first museum, Guggenheim continued to add to his collection, acquiring paintings by Marc Chagall, Robert Delaunay, Fernand Léger, Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso. The collection quickly outgrew its original space, and so in 1943, Rebay and Guggenheim wrote a letter to Frank Lloyd Wright asking him to design a permanent structure for the collection. It took Wright 15 years, 700 sketches, and six sets of working drawings to create the museum. From 1943 to early 1944, Wright produced four different sketches for the initial design. One of the plans (scheme C) was a hexagonal shape as opposed to the other three circular sketches. It was the only design of the four to have level floors for the galleries without the use of one ramp continuing around the building. At the same time, Rebay was searching for sites for the museum. She selected the museum’s site at the corner of 89th Street and Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park.

A 1966 U.S. postage stamp honoring Frank Lloyd Wright, with the Guggenheim visible in the background.
In 1953, the foundation’s collecting criteria expanded under its new director, James Johnson Sweeney. Sweeney rejected Rebay’s dismissal of “objective” painting and sculpture, and he soon acquired Constantin Brâncuşi’s Adam and Eve (1921), followed by works of other modernist sculptors, including Jean Arp, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti and David Smith.[2] Sweeney reached beyond the 20th century to acquire Paul Cézanne’s Man with Crossed Arms (c. 1899).[2] In that year, the foundation also received a gift of 28 important works from the Estate of Katherine S. Dreier, a founder of America’s first collection to be called a modern art museum, the Société Anonyme. Dreier had been a colleague of Rebay’s. The works included Little French Girl (1914–18) by Brâncuşi, an untitled still life (1916) by Juan Gris, a bronze sculpture (1919) by Alexander Archipenko and three collages (1919–21) by German Hanoverian Dadaist Schwitters. It also included works by Calder, Marcel Duchamp, El Lissitzky and Mondrian.[3] Among others, Sweeney also acquired the works of Alberto Giacometti, David Hayes, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock.[4]
Sweeney oversaw the last half dozen years of the construction of the museum building, during which time he had an antagonistic relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright, especially regarding the building’s lighting issues.[5][6] The distinctive cylindrical building, turned out to be Wright’s last major work, as the architect died six months before its opening. From the street, the building looks like a white ribbon curled into a cylindrical stack, wider at the top than the bottom, displaying nearly all curved surfaces. Its appearance is in sharp contrast to the typically rectangular Manhattan buildings that surround it, a fact relished by Wright, who claimed that his museum would make the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art “look like a Protestant barn.” Internally, the viewing gallery forms a helical spiral ramp climbing gently from ground level to the skylight at the top.
On October 21, 1959, ten years after the death of Solomon Guggenheim and six months after the death of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Museum first opened its doors to large crowds. The building instantly polarized architecture critics, though today it is widely praised. Some of the criticism focused on the idea that the building overshadows the artworks displayed inside, and that it is difficult to properly hang paintings in the shallow, windowless, concave exhibition niches that surround the central spiral. Prior to its opening, twenty-one artists signed a letter protesting the display of their work in such a space.
Thomas M. Messer succeeded Sweeney as director of the museum (but not the foundation) in 1961 and stayed for 27 years, the longest tenure of any of the city’s major arts institutions’ directors. When Messer took over, the museum’s ability to present art at all was still in doubt due to the challenges presented by continuous spiral ramp gallery that is both tilted and has non-vertical curved walls. It is difficult to properly hang paintings in the shallow, windowless exhibition niches that surround the central spiral. Canvasses must be mounted raised from the wall’s surface. Paintings hung slanted back would appear “as on the artist’s easel”. There is limited space within the niches for sculpture.

The skylight in the center of the museum
Almost immediately, in 1962, Messer took a risk putting on a large exhibition that combined the Guggenheim’s paintings with sculptures on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum.Three dimensional sculpture, in particular, raised “the problem of installing such a show in a museum bearing so close a resemblance to the circular geography of hell”, where any vertical object appears tilted in a “drunken lurch” because the slope of the floor and the curvature of the walls could combine to produce vexing optical illusions. It turned out that the combination could work well in the Guggenheim’s space, but, Messer recalled that at the time, “I was scared. I half felt that this would be my last exhibition.” Messer had the foresight to prepare by staging a smaller sculpture exhibition the previous year, in which he discovered how to compensate for the space’s weird geometry by constructing special plinths at a particular angle, so the pieces were not at a true vertical yet appeared to be so. In the earlier sculpture show, this trick proved impossible for one piece, an Alexander Calder mobile whose wire inevitably hung at a true plumb vertical, “suggesting hallucination” in the disorienting context of the tilted floor.
The next year, Messer acquired a private collection from art dealer Justin K. Thannhauser for the museum’s permanent collection. These 73 works include Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and French modern masterpieces, including important works by Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, Vincent van Gogh and 32 works by Pablo Picasso.
In 1992, the building was supplemented by an adjoining rectangular tower, taller than the original spiral, designed by the architectural firm of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects.[18] By that point, the building had become iconic enough that this augmentation of Wright’s original design was itself controversial.
In October 2005, Lisa Dennison, a longtime Guggenheim curator, was appointed director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Dennison resigned in July 2007 to work at the auction house Sotheby’s.
From October 2005 to February 2008, Thomas Krens remained director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, having won a decisive victory over billionaire philanthropist and board member Peter Lewis. A significant contributor to the Guggenheim Foundation, Lewis resigned in 2005 in a dispute with the board over the direction and leadership of the Foundation. Despite this, Krens and Lewis nevertheless continue to agree in describing the building itself as “the most important piece of art in the collection.”
In February 2008, Krens stepped down as the Director of the Guggenheim Foundation, but remains an advisor to the Guggenheim’s international expansion projects. The search for a new Director, who will head both the New York museum and the Foundation was recently completed with the Board’s appointment of Richard Armstrong—formerly director of Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Art—as its fifth director.
Exterior restoration

Guggenheim Museum exterior after the 3-year renovation
Between September 2005 and July 2008, the Guggenheim Museum underwent a significant exterior restoration.
In the first phase of this project, a team of restoration architects, structural engineers, and architectural conservators worked together to create a comprehensive assessment of the building’s current condition that determined the structure to be fundamentally sound. This initial condition assessment included:
the removal of 11 coats of paint from the original surface, revealing hundreds of cracks caused over the years, primarily from seasonal temperature fluctuations
detailed monitoring of the movement of selected cracks over 17 months
impact-echo technology, in which sound waves are sent into the concrete and the rebound is measured in order to locate voids within the walls
extensive laser surveys of the exterior and interior surfaces, believed to be the largest laser model ever compiled
core drilling to gather samples of the original concrete and other construction materials
testing of potential repair materials.
Much of the interior of the building was restored during the 1992 renovation and addition by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects. The 2005–2008 restoration primarily addresses the exterior of the original building and the infrastructure. This includes the skylights, windows, doors, concrete and gunite facades and exterior sidewalk, as well as the climate-control. The goal will be to preserve as much significant historical fabric of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum as possible, while accomplishing necessary repairs and attaining a suitable environment for the building’s continuing use as a museum.[24]On September 22, 2008, friends and supporters of the Guggenheim gathered in New York to mark the completion of the 3-year renovation of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Museum. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officiated at the celebration that culminated, just after sunset, with the premiere of artist Jenny Holzer’s tribute For the Guggenheim, a work commissioned in honor of Peter B. Lewis, who was a major benefactor in the Museum restoration project. Other supporters of the $29 million dollar restoration included the Board of Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of New York. Additional support was provided by the State of New York and MAPEI Corporation.The museum was registered as a National Historic Landmark on October 6, 2008.
Significance in popular culture

The Guggenheim interior
The building has become a cultural icon and can be seen widely throughout popular culture. It is featured in Matthew Barney’s The Cremaster Cycle, Bye Bye Birdie, Men in Black, When in Rome, Downtown 81, Ugly Betty and prominently in The International, where a major shootout occurs in the museum. (In fact, a life-size replica of the museum was built for this scene.. The film, Mr. Popper’s Penguins has a sequence where the penguins cause a disturbance entering the museum, wander to the top of the gallery structure and slide down the entire spiral structure to the ground floor. The New Yorker has included the museum multiple times on its cover and cartoons.
The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City (2007) by Peter Sanderson points out that the Guggenheim museum played a part in Daredevil (Marvel Comics), vol. 1, #61 (1970), What If (comics) (featuring Conan the Barbarian), vol. 1, #13 (1979), and Thor (Marvel Comics) #447-48 (1992).
[edit]Works and Process

Works and Process is a series of performances at the Guggenheim begun in 1984 The first season consisted of Philip Glass with Christopher Keene on Akhnaten and Steve Reich and Michael Tilson Thomas on The Desert Music. — at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Tilden Park Berkeley California — Happy 60th Anniversary to my friends at Redwood Valley Railway! (Real Steam Trains!) – A 5 inch scale, 15 inch gauge steam railway based on narrow gauge railroads of the late 1800s located in Berkeley, California. – Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_Valley_Railway
The Redwood Valley Railway is a ridable miniature railroad in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, California. It was established in 1952 by Erich Thomsen, and has expanded to 1.25 miles of track and over 160,000 passengers a year.
The railroad uses 5″ scale model live steam locomotives on a 15 in (381 mm) narrow gauge track.
Locomotives
The Number 2- An 0-4-0 Gasoline-Hydraulic locomotive “Juniper”
The Number 4- A 2-4-2 Columbia “Laurel”
The Number 5- A 4-4-0 American “Fern”
The Number 7- A 2-6-2 Prairie “Oak”
The Number 11- A 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler “Sequoia”
Rolling stock
The Redwood Valley Railway maintains a dozen or so wooden gondolas, built similar to those found on 36″ narrow-gauge lines in the American West. The gondolas, equipped with seating for up to eight adults, are the mainstay passenger rolling stock for this operation. The RVRY also owns three stock cars which have been specifically built to carry passengers as well. These are often favorites with small children, although a full-sized adult can comfortably fit inside.
Other equipment includes a boxcar, extra convertible gondolas, which can either haul passengers or satisfy M.O.W. needs.
The RVRy. owns numerous four-wheel maintenance-of-way cars known as “jimmies”, which have specialized uses such as welding, tie replacement, or carrying ballast.
The RVRy. also rosters a single flatcar, built as a high school shop project by one of the crew in the 1970s. This rugged flatcar has seen thousands of uses, and is one of the most versatile cars on the railroad.
Unique among the roster of cars is a coal gondola, once used to carry extra coal for the #4. Coal was used up until the mid-1970s when the #4 was converted to fuel oil. The coal gondola, with its higher sides, is infrequently used. It currently carries a few dozen metal folding chairs for the annual meet.
A favorite with both young and old is the caboose. Based on a D&RGW 36″ gauge prototype, this “short” center cupola caboose has graced the end of most revenue trains for over 30 years.
[edit]Future Projects

Parts for a 2-4-4 Forney and a 2-6-0 exist, but currently remain unassembled. Plans for a second caboose and a lavish, scale (down to the furniture, wallpaper, and bar with tiny glasses) business car are in the works.
As of mid-2010 the boiler for the #13, the aforementioned 2-6-0 has been manufactured. Not to be confused with a visiting GSP&P #13 from the Glenwood Southpark and Pacific.
The #9, a brand-new diesel-hydraulic switching locomotive is in the planning and development stages and should look somewhat similar to the temperamental but faithful #2. The #9 will have a diesel engine instead of a gasoline engine, and will be built as a heavier and more powerful two-axle diesel locomotive, similar to <25ton American industrial locomotives like those found on narrow gauge operations around the country.

Former Locomotives and Rolling Stock

The Number 1 "Cricket" a 12" gauge steam locomotive along with a few 12" gauge cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Ry. in Folsom Ca. — at Redwood Valley Railroad Steam Trains In Tilden Park.

New York NY — Local 802 Musicians Union Birthday Party for Reynold “Zeke” Mullins great jazz pianist – here on Left is Zeke with drummer Buddy Henry on Right, also Buddy’s birthday either on same or one day different – cake lighting happy birthday! – Jon Hammond — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM.

New York NY — Local 802 Musicians Union Birthday Party for Reynold “Zeke” Mullins – Jon Hammond’s organ on the bandstand just finished playing – Greg Bandy drums / MC for this special evening here at the cans – JH — at Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM.

SAN FRANCISCO — Crews restoring the Murphy Windmill in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park are celebrating a milestone.

Crowds watch as workers place a 64-ton dome on the historic landmark Murphy windmill during its repair in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. The windmill was constructed in 1905 and is one of the largest windmills in the world. It originally served to irrigate the park. The dome was repaired in Holland. The flags below the American and San Francisco flags are the Dutch and Irish flags.

The windmill’s 68-ton copper dome was placed back on top of the structure on Monday after undergoing nearly a decade of restoration.

The work is part of a multi-million dollar project to bring the six-story windmill, which once pumped water to the rest of the park, back online. Built in 1905, the windmill languished for decades until the restoration work began in 2002.

The project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2012, when the windmill’s sails and gears should be back on and the area around it landscaped.

The project is being funded by public and private money. — at Dutch Windmill

San Francisco CA — The entrance to Baker Beach – Jon Hammondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Beach
Baker Beach is a public beach on the peninsula of San Francisco, California, U.S.. The beach lies on the shore of the Pacific Ocean to the northwest of the city. It is roughly a half mile (800 m) long, beginning just south of Golden Gate Point (where the Golden Gate Bridge connects with the peninsula), extending southward toward the Seacliff peninsula, the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Sutro Baths. The northern section of Baker Beach is “frequented by clothing-optional sunbathers”. As such it is considered a nude beach.History
Baker Beach is part of the Presidio, which was a military base from the founding of San Francisco by the Spanish in 1812 until 1997. In 1904, it was fortified with disappearing gun installations known as Battery Chamberlin, which can still be viewed today. When the Presidio was decommissioned as a U.S. Army base, it became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is administered by the National Park Service.
From 1986 to 1990, the north end of Baker Beach was the original site of the Burning Man art festival. In 1990, park police allowed participants to raise the traditional large statue but not to set it on fire, since the beach enforces a limit on the size of any campfires. Subsequent Burning Man events have taken place in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
A fatal shark attack occurred on Baker Beach on May 7, 1959[5] when 18-year old Albert Kogler Jr. was attacked by a great white shark while he was 15 feet deep in water. This was the only shark attack recorded on Baker Beach.
Large outcrops of serpentine cliffs occur along the Pacific coast near Baker Beach. When rising from the land surface, serpentine produces a low-calcium, high-magnesium soil that can allow for rare species of plants to develop in the vicinity. This may explain the presence of Hesperolinon congestum (the Marin Dwarf Flax, a threatened plant) in surrounding areas — at Baker Beach.

1976 Honda Civic CVCC my very first brand-new car – Jon Hammond *wearing one of my custom Panama Hats from Arthur at Hand The Hatter of Boston Combat Zonehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150944323417102&set=a.61160682101.82732.558692101
Combat Zone Boston MA — Hand The Hatter, Arthur was one of the greatest hatters of all times. I had all my hats custom made by him when I was playing Hammond organ 7 nights a week in the Zone – at World Famous 2 O’Clock Club, Picadilly, Mouse Trap and some of the other ‘continuous adult entertainment’ clubs back in the 70’s – Jon Hammondhttp://www.csmonitor.com/1988/1011/rhat.html
By David Holmstrom, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor / October 11, 1988

Boston
IT’S a hot day on LaGrange Street. Across from the gaudy Club New Orleans, on the shady side of this street in Boston’s notorious “combat zone,” Arthur Stephens takes a small paring knife out of his pocket. He carefully cuts through the black threads of time. “Six and seven-eighths,” he says quietly. In his hand is a beige man’s hat. No measuring, no guessing the size. He knows hats, this hat, any hat. The knife cuts the threads holding the old, black hatband. It falls to the floor.

“This is a good beaver hat,” says Mr. Stephens, twirling it over the knuckles of one hand. He will spend the next hour or so in loving restoration of another man’s favorite hat.

For 54 years, inside a narrow LaGrange Street shop darkened by time and steam, and filled with the rakishness of hats on pegs everywhere, Stephens has plied the almost forgotten art of a hatter. Like a poet polishing verbs, Stephens makes, restores, and repairs fine hats. During the half-century he has been motivated by the axiom “A man doesn’t looked dressed unless he wears a hat.”

“My sisters were hat trimmers,” he says proudly, ready to nurture just about any stained, drooping hat into new sheen and bearing. “My father was a hatter, and my brothers were hatters, too. See, I like what I’m doing. You gotta like what you’re doing. I’m 80 going on 81.

Arthur Stephens is the only bona fide, art-for-the-sake-of-art hatter left in Boston. Once there were dozens. Ernesto Marrone has been a customer for 10 years. “You can’t get this kind of service anywhere else,” he says, “not even in New York. I wear hats because I grew up in an old Italian neighborhood where hats were customary.”

Long before Stephens bought the shop on LaGrange, a man named Hand first opened it on a downtown Boston street. The year was 1860, the year Abraham Lincoln was elected President, and Mr. Hand proclaimed his shop “Hand the Hatter.”

The shop thrived down one century to another, satisfying Bostonian gentlemen who wore homburgs, panamas, top hats, trilbies, derbys, westerns, fedoras, and even boaters. And when the young and ambitious Stephens bought the shop in 1934, he kept the name.

Today, above the door, slightly weathered and melancholy, a black-and-white sign still says, “Hand the Hatter.”

The small shop window – protected by a steel grate – is so dusty and gray there is no seeing through it. One step up and through the open door and into the musty shop, and you have entered a time warp sliced from a faded calendar, circa 1930, with hats, hats, and more hats.

“You walk in here and say, `How come all this junk is here?”’ says Stephens, a small man with rounded shoulders and a gruff, sentimental voice. “But everything is ready for any kind of hat. You never know when you’re going to use this stuff.”

“This stuff” lying about is a Noah’s ark of the hatter’s craft. Shelves and tables full of wooden hat blocks, shelves full of wooden flanges to shape brims, a 40-year-old hissing copper boiler (steam for steaming the hats), ancient cans of “luring” grease (to bring out the sheen of hats), an old “ironing” machine that heats and shapes the crown of hat while it spins slowly on a block, and off in one corner a bulbous, heated “sand” machine (a flannel bag filled with heated beach sand) to lower over a hat on a flange to shape or reshape the brim.
“I used to work until 2 in the morning,” says Stephens, recalling the heady, quicker pace of the 1930s. “Saturdays, Sundays. I’d go out to eat, take a shower at a hotel, come back here, and go to work again. I could knock off maybe 40 to 50 hats a day. Today if I do eight or 10 I’m doing a big day’s work.”

Stephens acknowledges that it was probably a hatless President named John Kennedy who helped take the steam out of the men’s hat business. That and all the vets returning from World War II as men who refused to wear hats anymore. Add the long hair of men in the 1960s, and hats had a dim future.

“Kennedy didn’t wear a hat,” says Stephens, “and everybody stopped wearing them. Men are wearing all different kinds of hats now, but still not like they used to. Do I wear hats? Sure. I keep a couple in my car.”

He pauses by the ironing machine, watching the blocked brown hat turning as the hot “iron” moves automatically and slowly around it, squeaking all the way. On a shelf a fan pushes the hot air around.

His voice lowers. “Way back I made hats for Jimmy Durante,” he says. “His valet used to come here and get them. He’d say, `Jimmy needs a couple of hats,’ and I’d know just what he wanted. Basil Rathbone used to buy hats from me, too.”

A new hat from Stephens will cost from $125 to $150. A restoration begins about $20 and often ends there, no matter how long it takes. “I never really check the time, to tell you the truth,” he says. “I like the work, and when it’s done, it’s done.”

In the late afternoon a customer of 35 years comes in: a stocky, older man named Mitch with a straw hat needing the brim smoothed and stiffened. Stephens repairs the hat in minutes, using the sand machine and some deftly applied glue.

“I bought my first custom-made hat here in 1950,” says Mitch, standing at the small counter near an enormous old cash register with a hand crank. “I got one he made me a few years ago, and a couple of others,” says Mitch. He says he would like another, a light gray this time.

He and Stephens strike an accord. A price of $85, with $40 down. Stephens fills out an order. Mitch peels off two $20 bills on the counter. “I don’t want you pushing yourself,” he says to Stephens. They both laugh and agree that three weeks should be long enough to fashion the hat. They shake hands. Mitch says warmly, “I need you. Don’t push yourself on this.”

Minutes later, a young man in a leather vest and tie enters and picks up a custom-made hat, a tan, narrow-brimmed trilby. Stephens packs the hat in a new Stetson hat box and tosses in a cluster of small red and yellow feathers for the hatband. When the young man leaves, Stephens says: “If you’re any kind of a businessman, you throw a man a few feathers.”

Late in the afternoon he sits in one of the four old chairs just inside the front door in a pensive mood. “These are all old customers now,” he says quietly. “They know I won’t sell them a bad hat. If I had said a $100 for the hat, Mitch would have paid it. No arguments.” — at Combat Zone

Combat Zone Boston MA — Hand The Hatter, Arthur was one of the greatest hatters of all times. I had all my hats custom made by him when I was playing Hammond organ 7 nights a week in the Zone – at World Famous 2 O’Clock Club, Picadilly, Mouse Trap and some of the other ‘continuous adult entertainment’ clubs back in the 70’s – Jon Hammondhttp://www.csmonitor.com/1988/1011/rhat.html
By David Holmstrom, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor / October 11, 1988

Jazz Quad article: “Blues In The Moscow White Nights”

The story of my first concerts in Russia with Igor Butman (sax), Eduard Zizak (drums) by organist Jon Hammond (USA) for Jazz Quad

Coming to Russia to play in concert together with Igor Butman and Eduard Zizak recently, was one of the greatest experiences in my life/career! I was highly anticipating this journey for many reasons. First of all since my family originally came from Russia and Latvia many years ago, I had heard so many stories as a young child about the land and people I was about to visit. My grandparents were never able to return to Russia but when I arrived it felt like I was coming home.

From the beginning of my preparations I could see that this was not going to be any ordinary music tour! From obtaining visas it was apparent that the procedure was slightly different. I traveled with my girlfriend Jennifer on British Airways departing JFK to London and then from there we changed planes to Moscow. Upon arriving at Moscow SVO airport we quickly found ourselves among 20 persons who arrived with no baggage. There was nobody there to speak in English with from BA, so we had an interesting conversation and procedure with the official Lost and Found desk there and filled out the Baggage Irregularity Report papers. Leaving the customs area without our baggage we were very happy when we stepped out and saw a nice man holding a big Jon Hammond poster. We knew this was our man!
Luckily we came 2 days before the concerts and our bags were finally found and delivered to our hotel the next day.
Marat Garipov, the gentleman who came to pick us up, is one of Igor Butman’s managers. Very nice guy and we had a great time speaking with him on the drive in to Moscow about his daughters and many shared interests. The traffic was very heavy coming in and it took about 1 1/2 hours to come in to Moscow, but we got a great first look at beautiful Moscow! What an incredible city…to me it looks like the Magic Kingdom that Walt Disney tried to recreate, only many of the buildings were built hundreds of years ago! Fantastic architecture.
When we checked in to the hotel, first we had to surrender our passports for some sort of official process. When we came up to our room on the 10th floor we found that we had a spectacular view of Red Square right outside our windows! The view was absolutely magnificent. Because it was the 3rd week of June, the days are the longest of the year and known as the White Nights. 10 at night looked like bright daylight! My first night I spent making many calls to trace our baggage and see about getting our passports back while my girlfriend slept. Finally back in posesssion of my instruments and our passports I was then very relieved and could really start enjoying the fact that I was really in Moscow!

The night before my first concert at Le Club, we were guests to attend the concert of bassist Alex Rostotsky and his fine group. We had a very enjoyable time dining and listening to Alex’s music and got to meet him and his musicians later in the evening. We also had the pleasure of meeting Faina Antonova who is Igor’s manager and also managing Le Club. She is very nice and took great care in arranging every detail of our stay in Moscow. I knew right away that we were in care of special angels. After a wonderful dinner/show and cappucinos at Le Club, Faina personally drove us back to our hotel, the famous Rossiya by Red Square. I was very tired by this point so I slept like a rock.

The next day was the big Friday of our first show. Most of the day I stayed in the room practicing my instrument and looking out at Red Square. Jennifer and I wanted to get to the club early so that we could get a sound check and settle in. Faina picked us up and we stuffed my organ and all our equipment in her compact car and off we went to Le Club in the Taganka Theatre Building.
When we arrived the big friendly doormen picked up my heavy cases like they were toothpicks and brought them up the stairs for me! Vladimir the sound engineer for the club was very smooth and professional, and a very nice guy. We got a good sound on the organ and then came Eduard Zizak the great drummer! I had already met Eduard in New York the week before when he was there performing with Igor’s quartet at Birdland. Eduard is an incredible drummer and also a very nice guy. We made a little soundcheck and right away I could tell that he had listened to my music and we would lock up with some very tight grooves…no problem!
But where was Igor? I was hoping for a little mini-rehearsel with Igor but when I saw the public coming in to have dinner I knew it was too late for that! Igor arrived with his entourage and it was great to see him…he told me not to worry and apologised for not coming earlier. Igor is in big demand with a very busy schedule, so I am very lucky and honored that he could take the time to perform with me together even as his new cd album “Prophecy” was just released on the Universal Label.
We had time only for a 5 minute soundcheck and I showed Igor my book. This was going to be a very spontaneous performance, no doubt about it!
We decided to record it, and Vladimir did a fantastic job on the recording on their new digital recording console that they had just brought back from New York.
From the first notes I knew that this would be one of those magic nights I would never forget. The response from the audience was wonderful. I could only say in Russsian, “Ya LuBlu Vas”…which means, I love you all. And when I said the words to the people I got a great feeling back from them. First set was just fine and then on the break I was introduced to many press people and some fantastic local musicians. I was very honored that they all came to greet me. And then Igor proudly introduced me to 2 of the legendary jazz musicians of Moscow-accordionist Vladimir Danilin and guitarist Alexei Kuznezov. They said they had their instruments in the car and so yes we decided right away to make a live session together.
It was incredible from the first song on the 2nd set, playing together with these fantastic Moscow musicians! It felt like we had been playing together for 20 years. These musicians are some of the greatest I have ever heard and played together with. The audience was loving every bit of it, just as much as I! I was so happy that Vladimir was getting it all on tape and Jennifer was also running the video machine and taking pictures also. By the end of the night I was very satisfied with how everything went. Igor personally drove Jennifer and I back to the hotel in his nice car with fantastic sound system.
Great night!

The next day we got a nice tour from our friends Eva Steiner and her nice husband Leo from the Austrian Embassy. We ended the afternoon by having lunch in the Rossiya and I got to have my first excellent bowl of Borscht!
I excused myself afterwards to take a nap as I was quite tired and knew it would be another big night at Le Club. I had a refreshing sleep and then I must say that the shower at the Rossiya is the best shower I have ever had in my life! The shower head resembles a little Sputnick! The water comes out full force…no water saving there at the Rossiya. Wonderful.
This time when Faina picked us up we didn’t have the organ with us. For the first time I left my instrument in the club because I could see the security there is excellent, 24 hours.
Already there were journalists at the club to meet. I was very happy to meet Cyril Moshkow. We had many e mails before coming and he is a very nice guy also and very serious jazz journalist. He is the president of the Russian Jazz Journalist organization. We had a nice conversation and Cyril took some pictures of the concert for his website. Also we met Igor Moskvichev from Russian “Hit Parade” magazine and Mr. Kumalo from the South African Embassy.

Jon Hammond with South African Minister-Counsellor Mpendulo Kumalo

foto by Jennifer Frizzell

Igor Butman, Eduard Zizak, Jon Hammond

Igor, Eduard and Jon in concert at Le Club jazz club, Moscow June 22, 2003
foto courtesy of Igor Moskvichev

The Journey Home to USA from Moscow

After the 2nd successful night playing in trio with Igor and Eduard, we sadly said our goodbyes. But we are very excited about Igor coming to New York with his entire 18 piece bigband to perform in concert with Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in September!
Igor sent us back to the hotel in care of one of his professional security men. We were very happy and relaxed with no fears in the Moscow night as we sped through the streets in a taxicab back to the Rossiya.
The following day we had a chance to do a little more shopping for souveniers and pack all the bags for our trip back to New York JFK.
Checking out from the hotel the reception people were very friendly and asked me to autograph my new cd “Hammond’s Bolero” for them *link: www.cdbaby.com/hammondthey called me Jazz Man. We enjoyed our stay there very much!

It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. I am happy that we have professional recordings of the concerts with Igor, Eduard and our special guest musicians Vladimir Danilin and Alexei Kuznezov. We are talking about creating a live cd release from the concerts at Le Club.
As they say, we came to “Celebrate the diplomatic power of jazz” with ™ “Blues In The Moscow White Nights”!

JON HAMMOND Hot Links!

Moscow White Nights…view outside our hotel window

This stunning view of Red Square from our hotel room window gave me the inspiration for the title “Blues In The Moscow White Nights” (like Blues in the Night) we played the song live on the Le Club sessions!

Igor Butman & Gary Walker at WBGO

Very early on morning of Fri. March 5th, 2004 Igor and I met at Port Authority Bus Station and took the bus out to WBGO radio in Newark NJ. I was assigned to the task by Gary to bring Igor in time for a broadcast interview that morning. Gary was my initial connection to Igor so they are old buddies as you can see in this photo I shot outside of WBGO at 54 Park Place in Newark. I’ll be returning to Moscow to play with Igor again this coming July.

Jon Hammond and Igor Butman on Russian TV

Igor translates for Jon on Russian television as he speaks about how it is to be in Russia performing with Igor Butman. The power of the universal language of music has brought it all together, and Jon is explaining his wish to dedicate original composition “Soon I Will Be Free” to the peoples of Russia and the former USSR.